inspiration: dreamy bedroom decor

Everyone needs a bit of inspiration, mental therapy I call it,  to keep going,  Being stuck in a rut is sometimes depressing and no matter how much you think you have it under control, life dictates otherwise. So for those challenging moments and agravating days I have decided to include (on a weekly basis) some inspirational  photos which help me feel good when I am having a bad day.

Mind you this doens’t replace my daily walks and medidation, it is just a quick pick me up when I feel ****. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the photos and no matter what find time for yourself every weekend and do whatever it takes to make you feel good about yourself.

Have a great weekend!

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elle decor you inspire me

I can honestly  tell you that I cannot pass up the magazine section at any bookstore, especially when I come across Elle Decor. In my opinion, it is the most resourceful, user-friendly, esthetically pleasing  and well-organized interior decorating magazine and I love the fact, it is published globally with  U.K., Australia and French versions to booth.

Anyway, I tend to keep most of my Elle Decor magazines because I feel, like fashion, interior decorating is recyclable and what is considered old news will most likely be new trend in the coming years. Besides my eclectic taste in decor is another reason to keep the magazines.

Here are some of  my favorite Elle Decor photos from years past which I think can most certainly be included in today’s design styles. Tell me what you think?

the nook vs the home library

I understand the new trend is to downsize and declutter. The two things I am a big fan of and have, over the past two years, applied to my new and improved lifestyle. But the one thing I seem to have trouble with is getting rid of books and/or downsizing my  home library collection.

Everyone around me keeps suggesting I invest in an electronic reading gadget, such as the Kindle, the Nook or the I-Pad to replace my collection of hardcover and paperback books.  I don’t know why but I absolutely refuse to give in and instead continue to dream of creating my own  in home library for my next place of residence.

Call me crazy, but there is nothing more rewarding then a floor to ceiling custom built bookshelves which house a collection of wonderful and sometimes unique books that are incorporated in either a family room, a long hallway or an actual home library (room).

I have included some of my favorite in home library designs to consider and perhaps share with you the passion I have for books. Tell me what you think?

a few of my favorite holiday decor

I love the fact holiday decor or decorating ideas  have come a long way throughout the years. The suggestion to use  shades of blue and silver or whites throughout the home is most amazing and in a way  esthetically pleasing to the eyes.

Seriously, in my opinion, there is nothing better than to come home from the craziness of the outdoors to a lighthearted and airy Christmas decor throughout a home.

So, although I may be too late in the month for this entry, nonetheless, I have included a few photos of my favorite holiday decor, which I plan to incorporate throughout my temporary housing  this year . Let me know what you think?

breakfast nooks – a san francisco gem

Funny shift in article you might say, considering my thought pattern during the holiday season. But I just had to include a piece on breakfast nooks, because in my opinion, they play a major role during the holiday season. And also because I cannot go very long without discussing interiors and architecture.

In San Francisco, almost every home built before 1970, has some sort of a built in breakfast nook. I am not talking about an open space where you can place a table with four chairs (like most modern homes or kitchens have) but a small circular or a corner section in the kitchen area designed specifically for the built in table and seating. I just love them!!!

One reason I feel the breakfast nook plays a big role during the holiday season, is that, although it is a small area, most family members spend quiet a lot of time planning and discussing their holiday events to host or attend.  This wonderful little corner is also used for wrapping gifts and filing out Christmas cards, contemplating  holiday menus and discussing curfews.

I, for one, love to sit in the breakfast nook and and pretend to help my Mother while she prepares her traditional holiday baked goods. So, for that reason, I want to say “hear hear for the breakfast nook” and just so you understand the impact these wonderful areas have on most San Francisco locals, I have included some photos for your viewing pleasure.  Enjoy!

anthropologie for the home

By now you might think I work for Anthropologie or perhaps get paid to advertise their products on my blog, but no that is not the case.  I simply appreciate their connection in style to most anything French.

With that said, I have found a few pieces in their HOME Decor section which I think are pretty cool and out of the norm. I have detailed them below for your consideration as well,  just in case  you happen to have an eclectic taste like mine.

Click here for product description and pricing:

chocolate hues in your home

Chocolate hues in decor can either be a hit or a miss ,if one is not careful while selecting the color to decorate a room. The wrong hue or a combination of chocolate (brown)  shades without accent colors can sometimes drive a person away from the room rather than embrace the environment.

I, for one, love the color and while contemplating incorporating it into a friend’s apartment theme, I put together the following photos for her to reflect upon in order to “get it right”.

Let me know what you think of using chocolate-brown in decor? Also, if  you have dabbled with the color in your interior decor, please do share your photos or links.

decorating with daughters or others in their 20s

I am always fascinated with the young generation (20s plus) and their sense of style and find their taste most refreshing and admirable. I wish we were so lucky  in the 80s. Anyway, while I observe the 20 something shoppers of fashion or furnishings, with their mothers or friends, I can’t help but smile at the wonder of bonding through design and decor.

In light of this topic, I have included some beautiful design alternatives for the 20 something (plus 30s and even some 40s), who perhaps lack inspiration or vision. I am not condemning anyone, but should the 20 something feel the need to consult their parent for design direction, consider  ideas from the following source: DOMINO’s (not the pizza), you might just be a hero.

happy holloween from rawsilkandsaffron.com

I have a love/hate relationship with Holloween. As a kid, I was often made fun of for my choice of costume because I made them myself, so I stopped dressing up for the occasion.

Then when I was in my 20′s I was forced to dress up at work because it was required of us to be a “team player”.  In my 30′s I ignored the occasion all together.

Now, I have made it a habit to walk  through different neighborhoods in San Francisco in order to see  all the little ones in their adorable costumes as well as those who took the time to decorate their homes as if it were Christmas.

Anyway, either way, I do want to wish all my followers and  friends and family the Happiest Holloween and please play it safe.  So, in honor of Holloween, I have included photos of some of my favorite pumpkin carvings.

I am going to miss my traditional walk through neighborhoods on Holloween in the U.S. this year, but from the picture below, can you guess where I am going to be? 

in honor of the color pink

One of my favorite color is pink. It wasn’t always like that but after Victoria’s Secret introduced us to the color pink with their beautiful shopping bags, pink was quickly added to my favorite color chart.

The problem with pink is that if it isn’t the right shade or incorporated with the right accent colors, it almost looks unappealing. I know most women in the U.S. shy away from it because as a child they were forced to wear pink and when they had daughters of their own, all the gifts included the dull, traditional pink color.

What has happened over the years however, is that the color pink has taken on a whole new look. We have so many variations (or hues) of pink that it is almost a sin not to consider the color in home decors, clothing lines and now even appliances, motorcycles and sometimes hair color.

My favorite shade or hue is the cherry blossom flower colors pictured here and I must admit I use the color throughout my life proudly.

So to just give you some examples of how you can incorporate the color pink into your life,  just in case you don’t want to wear the color, I have included some photos to consider: